Jorge Jesus: Ronaldo will start Portugal's game against Wales

Jorge Jesus has confirmed that Cristiano Ronaldo will start Portugal's Nations League match against Wales on Thursday, 24 September, in the coach's first game in charge. The fixture kicks off at 21:45 Moscow time.

Jesus said the plan depends on how the squad comes through training. As reported by A Bola, he told the press conference:

"Today I have my first training session on the pitch. Yesterday was practically a recovery session. If nothing special happens today, Ronaldo will start tomorrow."

Jesus, 72, named him in his first Portugal squad on 18 September, keeping most of Martínez's group and adding João Félix, Gonçalo Ramos and three PSG players.

He was firm that the place is not permanent. "Cris is a symbol of Portugal, but that does not give him the right to play every match," Jesus said. He recalled a game without Ronaldo in Hong Kong that drew 5,000 spectators, against 55,000 when Ronaldo played. "Tomorrow he will play. I hope he scores one or two goals, and then I will take him off," the coach said.

On the wider squad, Jesus said: "I am working with a national team that brings together the best footballers in the world. Wherever we play, we play to win. We are the reigning Nations League winners and so we must defend the title."

Wales sit third in their World Cup qualifying group in Europe with 10 points from 6 matches. David Brooks and Sorba Thomas have one goal each in that campaign.

If Jesus does take Ronaldo off once he has scored, as he suggested, the bench will be tested early in a new coach's first match.